8 Summer Destinations That East Coasters Will Love, On The West Coast

Expand your horizons. Watch the sun set three hours later than usual.

America's left coast is chock full of the same things that make East Coast vacations magical: maritime culture, fresh seafood, outdoor sports, and gorgeous natural landscapes. (All that, plus authentic Mexican food!) Though your annual family getaway might bring you to to Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, or Fire Island, here are some West Coast gems you might have missed.

1. Big Sur, California

The Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA

Located off of California's famed Highway One, with Monterey and San Francisco to the north and Los Angeles to the south, Big Sur is a pristine stretch of rugged coastline perched about 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Big Sur's Ventana Inn hosted techie billionaire Sean Parker's wedding in 2013, while the equally elegant Post Ranch Inn hosted Anne Hathaway before and after her 2012 wedding ceremony. Golf lovers can head to the renowned Pebble Beach Resort, just one hour away. If you're looking to commune with nature, head to Pfeiffer Beach to watch traces of fog and seawater spill through the spectacular rock formations. And foodies can gorge on wine, seafood, and meats at Nepenthe, a bohemian American-eatery once frequented by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton while they filmed The Sandpiper in 1964.

2. Point Reyes, California

The Point Reyes Lighthouse

Dubbed "My West Coast Martha's Vineyard" by New York Times travel writer Rachel Levin, Point Reyes, California is another gorgeous seaside destination for bi-coastal travelers. John F. Kennedy declared it a national seashore in 1962, ensuring that the territory remain serene and unspoiled. Make your way to the Point Reyes Lighthouse to catch the spouts and flukes of Grey Whales as they migrate from Baja, CA to Alaska in January and back again in March. The preferred diet in Pt. Reyes is local fresh oysters, served any way you want them at Hog Island Oyster Company–or artisan cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery. Stay at Manka's Inverness Lodge, a collection of luxurious cabins centered around a re-purposed hunting lodge built in 1917.

3. Hood Canal, Washington

Hood Canal, WA

Home to Bill Gates' family vacation compound, Hood Canal is a watery playground for America's business elite. It is a narrow slit of ocean water off of Washington's Puget Sound, located two hours away from Seattle, and set below the snow-fringed peaks of Olympic National Park. Summer vacationers flock here to swim, sail, fish, and scuba dive. Don your Wellington boots and rake in a full harvest of shellfish – shrimp, clams, oysters, and mussels abound in this body of water. While most of the waterfront property is privately owned, the Alderbrook Resort & Spa in the town of Union offers guests prime views of the canal and the Olympic Mountains, dock service replete with rentable stand-up paddle boards and kayaks, plus a golf course, pool, spa, and renowned restaurant.

4. Lummi Island, Washington

Pioneering Chef Blaine Wetzel, Lummi Island, WA

If you head to this tiny island, do it for the food. Then take in the dazzling views of Washington's San Juan Islands and British Columbia's Gulf Islands. The island's tiny population of some 900 people almost doubles in the summer. That's when visitors flock to the destination restaurant and hotel The Willows Inn, where a weekend stay books up a year in advance. Twenty-nine-year-old superstar chef Blaine Wetzel, who recently won the James Beard Award for Best Northwest Chef, mans the restaurant there. Wetzel has pioneered the luxury locavore experience by sourcing his ingredients (ranging from agriculture to eggs to pork) from the on-site seven-acre farm, or from the island's surrounding waters. In the morning, he takes out fishing boats or kayaks to scavenge exotic sea vegetables and catch black cod, steelhead, and sockeye salmon.

5. Ojai, California

Life in Ojai Valley, California is the antithesis of the East Coast metropolitan grind. Which is exactly why city slickers need to visit. The tiny, idyllic town of 7,000 people, located 1.5 hours from Los Angeles, is a mecca for health devotees, spiritual seekers, Hollywood stars, and, of course, well-heeled vacationers looking for a place to rejuvenate before returning to the "real" world. You won't see any Wal-Mart or TGI Fridays on Ojai Avenue, since the town banned chain stores in 2007. Stay at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, which recently underwent a $90 million renovation, and, back in the day, counted Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable, and Nancy and Ronald Reagan as regulars. If you're not occupied at the Inn's 31,000 square-foot spa, golf course, or tennis courts, take a hike, bicycle, or horseback ride through the area's breathtaking and exceptionally bio-diverse trails. Don't forget to pick up some local organic agriculture (tangerine, avocados, tomatoes, etc.) at the Ojai Certified Farmer's Market.

6. Calistoga, California

Old Faithful Geyser of California, Calistoga, CA

While you've probably heard of the little California wine mecca known as Napa Valley, it couldn't hurt to narrow it down to a standout town within the region: Calistoga. The town's natural hot springs have drawn visitors since the mid-1800s, when one of California's early Anglo-American settlers, Samuel Brannan, decided to build a spa there on the model of Saratoga Springs in New York. He aimed to make it the Saratoga of California, but apparently misspoke and said he'd make this place the Calistoga of Sarifornia. The Calistoga Ranch resort is the hotel to book, with over 157 private acres dedicated to luxury lodges, three private oak-lined hiking trails, and a high-end restaurant called the Lakehouse (which is, after all, overlooking the private Lake Lommel). The resort's spa offers treatments that utilize the naturally-occurring, mineral-rich mud and volcanic waters that emerge from the earth at around 140 degrees. Hop into one of the resort's loaner Mercedes cars to explore nearby wineries like Castello di Amorosa or Chateau Montelena Winery. Or on the off-chance that you tire of the ranch's restaurant, make your way to Calistoga's Michelin-starred Solbar Restaurant for seared diver scallops.

7. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

A vineyard on Okanagan Lake, B.C.

West Coast wine country is not limited to Northern California. Known as the wine capital of Canada, the Okanagan Valley is a brilliant spot for romantic wine-tasting expeditions or family fun on the sandy shores of the region's many lakes. Travelers flock to the area in the summer months for the balmy weather, and in the winter for the ample snowfall and stellar skiing conditions. In the summer, slip on your boating shoes–or water skis–and motor across the idyllic waters of Osoyoos Lake. Or tour posh wineries like The Mission Hill Family Estate, which has stunning architecture, a modern twist on an old Tuscan Villa, and where you can drink in stunning views of Lake Okanagan along with your glass of rosé.

8. Bend, Oregon

Boat moored along pier, Davis Lake, Bend, OR

In Bend, Oregon the question is not "what to do," but "how to choose what to do?" The options are plentiful in this high desert paradise for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. A more relaxed visitor may opt for a morning of golf, an afternoon of craft beer tastings, and a few leisurely strokes on a paddle board at sunset. More restless? You might opt for a high-impact cycling expedition, fly-fishing, game hunting, or skiing. Mount Bachelor, part of the Cascade mountain range and 21 miles from Downtown Bend, offers over 3,600 acres of skiable terrain, attracting Olympic athletes for late-spring training with its 7-month ski season. For a luxury basecamp next to all the mountainside action at Mount Bachelor, book a room at Tetherow Lodges. For a more secluded experience, stay at the Pronghorn (an Auberge Resort). Both have world-class golf courses and can connect you with the region's best recreational resources.

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